Middle Grade Review: The Truth about Triangles

 

Luca loves his family's pizza restaurant. He loves creating pizzas; he just wishes that his mother would try them and allow them to be added to menu. The business is struggling financially, and he knows he can save it. 

His family is out of sorts. His parents are fighting all the time. His twin siblings are fighting all the time. Luca is the glue that holds everyone together. 

But he's having a hard time juggling it all.

His favorite reality show, about pizza places, announces this is their last season. They invite restaurants to enter. Luca rushes to fill out an application; this could be the answer to all his problems.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. Obviously, I craved pizza while eating it. I wanted to wrap Luca up in a giant hug. He was going through so much drama: family, friendship, romance, and job drama. His parents are separating. Luca has to babysit the twins often.  A new boy moved to town. He and Luca are hanging out, but he's lying to his best friend about it. All this drama is making his stomach hurt.

Luca has such a big heart, and he was always trying to make everyone else happy. I loved the moments where people tried to make him happy. I loved that he got to meet his hero. I loved the moments between him and Will.  A really wonderful story that I didn't want to put down. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your middle grade school and public library collection 

Fresh Fiction Reviews (20)

 

Just a few Holiday reads, I reviewed for Fresh Fiction:

"The Most Wonderful Book of the Year"

"A Messy Holiday Treat"

"Lost and Found in the Woods"

"A holiday Emma retelling"

"Elf Yourself"

BookTok: Wild About You

Hiking + Reality TV Show

Plus Finn is from Vermont (but I don't think they say where)

Grumpy/Sunshine

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian Wild about You was such a fun read!!!! #hiking #booktok #yabook #realitytv #yabooktok #yabooks @Get Underlined ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Review: Mindy Kim Big Sister

 

* Book 11 in the Mindy Kim series * 

Mindy Kim's stepmom - Julie is pregnant. The baby is arriving any moment. They want the gender of the baby to be surprised. Mindy isn't sure what to expect. She's been the only child for so long. She asks her friends for advice.

Once the baby arrives, things are hard. The baby cries all the time. But Mindy isn't sure how to help. She wants to play with her brother, but he's too small for most interactions. Can she be the best big sister?

My Thoughts: I love this series. I love Mindy's big heart. I love how she wants to help but isn't sure how. I love how she seeks advice from her friends. The solution she comes up with is super cute. I can't wait to read more about Mindy and her new brother. I hope this series continues for a long time. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school or public library.

Picture Book Review: Help Wanted One Rooster

The farm animals are falling asleep. They need a rooster to help them. They have some interviews lined up. But none of the other animals can make the rooster noise. Can they find someone to help?

My Thoughts: This was a funny picture book. There's a lot to unpack in this book in terms of animals around the farm and their jobs. The animals are spending their time with hobbies. I love how everything came together. The ending is funny, and it sets the book up for s sequel. 

 Perfect for your public or school library's collection.

Top Ten Tuesday: Assigned Reading

 This week's topic is assigned reading - from school. School was a long time ago. But let's dig in.

I took an AP English class in high school. It was horrible. I hated everything we read. And didn't understand most of it.

I'm not sure if this was the exact book. But I think so.

Didn't understand anything about this book.

Earlier in High School:

I loved this one.

I know everyone loves this book. But it was a meh for me.

I thought this one was important.

I know there were others - I also think the Merchant of Venice.

I've never liked Shakespeare - although I love several modern adaptations of his works:

10 Things I Hate About You

She's the Man

Lion King

Not sure if this was college or high school:

I liked it - a bit sad, but good.

A bunch of college reads:

Loved it! Visited Edith Wharton's home some years back. She was fascinating. 

I took a Jane Austen course in college - while studying in Bath. We read all six novels. I had read them before but still enjoyed them. My favorites are: Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Emma. Although I really do like Sense and Sensibility. 

I loved this one - such great imagery. I hated Mr. Rochester though. Still do

Have you read any of these? Agree? Disagree?

Middle Grade Review: Sink or Swim

Ty's headed off to camp with his best friends. His cast just came off his arm and it should be a great summer. But it's not because:

1. Anxiety rears its ugly head

2. Body Issues - not being able to swim changed his body

3. Friendship drama 

But there's also:

1. Building a Boat

2. Making new friends

3. RPG moments

This graphic novel has a lot to unpack, but it's also really good. I loved how there are good moments and bad moments. I liked the depiction of anxiety. And it was really brave of Ty to ask for help. I love that the counselor didn't know what to say, but came back with more information. I think that's an important piece - everyone's learning and now one has all the answers. 

KidLit for Kamala

 I'm part of the KidLit for Kamala group.

A bunch of us, myself included, have written essays about why we are voting for Harris.

Here's a look at mine:

You can read all of the essays and mine here.

Vacation Photos: Seattle

 

This is the third and last photo post of our trip in September.

This post is the pictures are hiking at Glacier National Park and Banff National Park.

Here we are resting as we visit friends near Seattle:

Just a baby Wallaby - we went to a Wallaby and Kangaroo farm where we learned so much about the babies 

This female kangaroo reminded me of Knightley

A lovely cherry pie! 

We visited the Kataluna Horse Rescue Farm and I brushed this pretty horse

Look how beautiful!

Some more horses on the farm

More horses

Me and Rylee! My pup away from home.

BookTok: Love off the Record

 

This was such a fun read. It's a long read, but I didn't want this book to end.

Although there were some cringe moments....

@yabooknerdlibrarian Do you read books from #booktok - this was recommended to me and I’m so glad it was! I loved it! #youvegotmail #yabooktok #college #newspaper #romancebooks @Simon Teen #Inverted ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Blog Tour: Pop-Up Planetarium

 

This book is perfect for anyone interested in the night sky.

So much information:

Constellations: the key stars, their stories, and where to find them

Zodiac Signs

A flashlight craft: for night vision

A star wheel

A way to see the stars inside

* this makes a perfect holiday gift

** Book sent for blog tour

Picture Book Wednesday: Halloween Books (2)

Just a few more Halloween picture books:

This might be my new favorite picture book. I love how this family celebrates at a Trunk or Treat event. There's so much to do and so much fun to be had.

Of course I love the bit about the books. I might use this for our library's Halloween storytime. The illustrations are great, the colors are bright, and the rhymes are fantastic. 

All the animals in the zoo are dressed up in costume and ready for the parade.

This book is clever and funny. I loved seeing all the animals in their costumes. And that ending is amazing.

This board book has the rhyme of the Itsy Bitsy Spider, but instead of a spider, a pumpkin is the star of the show. 

This cute Halloween book is perfect for sharing with littles!

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Brags

 This week's topic is Bookish Brags. I'm not good about bragging...

As Paul Rudd says here, stop it, you're making me blush!

But:

I am ahead on my Goodreads goal this year - the last two years, I didn't make my reading goal.

And I forgot my blog anniversary, but I've been blogging for a while...

It's been a wild ride! 

Middle Grade Review: Buckle Up

 

This week, I'm talking about:

Lonnie's parents are recently divorced. He's not happy about all the changes. Car rides with his parents allow them to have hard conversations. He requests that his parents drop him off at the corner - not in front of the school. Lonnie's embarrassed about the divorce and doesn't want the other kids to tease him. He also doesn't feel at home in his dad's new place. All these changes are making him emotional. Will these car conversations help?

My Thoughts: I really love this idea - most of the book takes places in the car. A few scenes take place within the two homes. Lonnie doesn't know how to express his feelings. With all the changes, he's left feeling uncomfortable. I like how he and his dad talk - his father calls him out for his bad behavior. HIs father also says some questionable things and Lonnie calls him out on it. The back and forth is between them is nice. I think it's important when Lonnie's dad says that he's still learning to talk about his feelings and that he says the wrong things sometimes. We're all still learning.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

 Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel for your school or public library's collection.

Vacation Photos: Banff

Just a few pictures of Banff National Park in Canda.

It's hard to take a bad picture here. 

Lake Moraine - yes the water really is that amazing color. 

Lake Louise 

Lake Louise from a hike

Lake Agnes

Always with a good book!

The water was super clear

The sun as it was setting 

Waterfall at Johnson Canyon 

Just a little waterfall at Johnson Canyon

The view at the Inkpots at Johnson Canyon

The Inkpots - these were super cool to see and the pictures do NOT do them justice.

The water is bubbling up

magical - there is ice on the top of the water

Of course we found the library

On the road to Jasper - another glacier lake. This was probably the prettiest road I've ever been on. There was so much to see and so many stops to make.

A lovely river - worth the short hike down and up again

You can see this glacier from the side of the road

Another waterfall - the lower falls

The start from that waterfall

View from the road

Just impressive